Aeroplane



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,396

E. A. KAUFFMAN AEROPLANE Filed Jan, 16, 1928 2 sheets-sheet l Feb. 26, 1929.

E. A. KAUFFMAN AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 Fig/.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y @www Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES ELIAS A. KAUFFMAN, OF CHICAGO, LLNOIS.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed January 16, 1928.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, and more particularly to the type which include tubular blower' mechanisms along with the customary propellers for actuating the aeroplane.

The mainol)ject of this invention is to provide the aeroplane with tubular blower mechanism to be selectively controlled for either aiding the usual propellers in the forward propulsion of the aeroplane, or to be reinlered effective in buoying the aeroplane and to prevent any rapid or accidental dropping thereof. A further object is to provide tubular blower mechansm for forcefully withdrawing the air from the front of the aeroplane body and selectively directing it either to the rear thereof to aid in the forward propulsion ofthe aeroplane, or to the bottom thereof for buoying the same. Another' object is to have an engine for operating the blower mechanism, which is independent from and separately controllable from the propeller engines. A further object is to provide control means placed in the pilots cabin for controlling the engine means of the blower fans, and also for controlling the blower fan valve means to direct the forced air either to be expelled at the rear of the aeroplane or at the bottom thereof.

Other objects and advantages, along with those above referred to, are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

YFig. 1 is a plan view of the body and main parts of an aeroplane, a portion being broken away, with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken substantially through the longitudinal center thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4t is a vertical section, taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings my invention is illustrated i in its preferred form of construction, and in conjunction with an aeroplane which has a flattened body 10 the top and bottom walls of which converge to form horizontal front and rear edges 11 and 12, respectively. The main supporting plane 13 is mounted over the body, as with struts 14, and a pilots cabin 15 is provided centrally over said body, beneath said plane. A door 16 and .steps 17 provide entrance to a central or entrance chamber Serial No, 246,933.

18 of the body, and steps 19 and a door 2O lead from said chamber to tl'ie pilotis cabin.

The propelling means of the aeroplane comprises tractor propcllcrs 2l mounted forward of the front edge 1l of the bod y, on propeller shafts 22 which extend through bearing means 2?) provided at said edge, and sai d shafts and propellors are actuated by cngines 24s mounted in the front part of bodv 10q forward of chamber 18. V l

My improved tubular blower mechai'iisn'l preferably comprises an individual tubular blloiver means for` each propeller and to operate in conjunction therewith; and each of said tul'iular blower means includes a pair of connected' intake tubes or branch tubes 2G, each which has a flaring intake mouth 27 positioned in the front edge 11 of body 10, preferably one at each side of and near to bearing means 23 and shaft 22, and to the rea-r of prorpeller 21, so as to withdraw the air particularly from the front edge of the bddv and directly to the rear of the propellers, 'where the air becomes most congested and dense during operation of the propeliers and forward travel of the aeroplane. These branch tubes 26 have their junction 28 connected to a blower member or fan 29 which is provided with a branched or two-way outlet member 3() having a valve 31 therein for selectively controlling an d directing the forced air either through the lower branch. and ejecting it out of its flaring discharge mouth 32 located at the bottom of said body 10, or for directing A it through the rear tubular moans 33 and out of the flaring discharge mouth 34 thereon at the rear of said body 10, and preferably just below the rear edge 12. The tubular .means used at the middle of the aeroplane preferably has its discharge means 33 branched so that a discharge mouth 34: is positioned at each side of the empennage 35, as indicated in Fig. 1; while thentubular blower means used toward the sides of the aeroplane preferably have one discharge tube 33 and one discharge mouth 34 each.

The power supplying means for d rivin, the blower members or fans 29 preferably comprises an engine 3G which may be mounted with bracket means 37 in chamber 18, and which actuates a shaft 38 extending transversely of the aeroplane and carrying pulleys 39 each of which drives a belt l0 extending around a pulley l1 fastened on a shaft 42 of a blower fan.

Means is provided for controlling the enlill) gine 36 and all the air directing means or valves 3l from the pilots cabin l5, and this means preferably includes an electric starter 43 for this engine, being connected to the engine with conductor means ist and being preferably mounted in the front ol the pilots cabin, to be readily accessible to the pilot. The valve actuating means preferably comprises a rod .l5 extending transversely oit the aeroplane and conn4 ed to the valves, and a link 46 which extends jvrom a crank arm fl?. provided on said rod, to a control lever 1-.8 placed in the piots cabin.

It is apparent that this blower mechanism, by ihn'celfnlly withdrawing the air directly from the front edge of the aermlane where it moet congested and by ihn'cetully ejecting it at the rear, will greatly aid the usual propellers in a more rapid forward propulsion of the aeroplane; and that thismechanism may likewise be enuloyed to forcefully eXpel the air at the bottom ot the aeroplane and thereby liecome e'liective in huoying the same and in preventing any sudden and dangerous dropping thereo'l. llt is also 'apparent that the blower engine 36 is provided separately from the propeller engines 2li and the control means is placed in convenient reach of the pilot in the pilotls cabin, and theretore, that iii the propeller engines or some ot them should become inoperative, that this blower mechanism may be speedily used in saving the aeroplane from any rapid drop and destruction.

What I claim as my invention and desire t-o secure by Letters Patent is:

1.An aeroplane comprising a flattened' body having a horizontal front edge and a propeller at the iront thereof, tubular blower vmeans in the body and having its air intake means at Jthe iront edge and behind the propeller, and means for actuating and yfor controlling said blower means independently from the propeller, or in co-operation therewith.

2. An aeroplane comprising a flattened body having its top and bottom walls converging into a horizontal front edge, a shaft mounted through said edge and having a propeller at the front thereof, and tubular blower means having intake mouths placed in said edge adjacent said shaft and propeller for withdrawing the air from said front edge and forcefully discharging it rearwardly near the rear end of said body.

3. An aeroplane comprising a body and propellers thereon, tubular blower means including connected branches having their intake mouths at the iront end of said body, a blower member at the junction of said branches, branched outlet means leading froml said member, one branchhaving a disf cl'iarge mouth at the rear part oi the body, and the other branch having a discharge mouth at the bottom of said body, and valve means `for selectively directing the air to be discharged either at the rear or at the bottom ol the body.

4l. An aeroplane comprising a body having its top and bottom walls mveigi'ng inte a horizontal front edge and being provided i with a pilots cabin upon said top wall, propellersI at said 'front edge and Vengines lor actuating the same, blower means including a blower ian. and an engine for operating the same tor withdrawing air from the iront ol the bodv and blowing it out either to the rear or at the bottoni thereof, valve means nfor directing the discharge of said air, and control means in the pilots cabin for readily controlling all oi said valve means and also said blower engine.

5. An aeroplane comprising a flattened body having a horizontal front edge and propellers mounted at the front thereof, tubular blower mechanism with a pair of intake mouths adjacent each propeller in said edge, 'fan means with an engine therefor and with outlet means and valve means for selectively directing the air either t-o the rear or to the bottom of said body, and contr-ol means for controlling the valve means and the fau engine to direct the air discharge and have said mechanism either co-operate with said propellers or to function independently thereof. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

